Zimbabwe
Strategic note period
2022-2026
Other resources (non-core)
Country Indexes
UN Women in action: Strategic insights and achievements
View annual report narratives for the year
Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements
In 2025, ZCO and its partners achieved a landmark milestone by firmly embedding Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) within Zimbabwe’s national development agenda. What began as a gender-blind framework under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2) was transformed, through sustained advocacy and technical support, into a gender-responsive NDS 2 (2026–2030), adopted by Government in November 2025. For the first time, the country’s development blueprint recognizes Social Development, Gender, and Social Protection as a national priority, complemented by measurable outcomes and indicators on GEWE, and gender-based violence within the Monitoring & Evaluation framework. The inclusion of GEWE priorities in the NDS 2 M&E Framework and the inclusion of Gender in the thematic area of Social Development, Gender and Social Protection will contribute to the country’s tracking of progress towards SDG 5 within the framework of the National Development Strategy; and it will enable the Government to prioritize resources from the national treasury to the Government strategies and programmes that contribute to the achievement of the gender Key Results Areas stated in the NDS 2. Zimbabwe’s national development strategies are funded primarily from the national treasury.
This structural shift marks a decisive step toward accountable governance and inclusive development, ensuring that women and girls are no longer invisible in national planning and resource allocation. It strengthens Government’s capacity to track progress against international, regional, and national gender commitments, while laying the foundation for policies and investments that directly improve the lives of women and girls. Complementary milestones, including Cabinet’s adoption of the National Gender Policy (2025) and the launch of the National Gender Machinery and Coordination Framework, reintroducing critical accountability mechanisms to safeguard women’s rights and institutionalize GEWE across all sectors.
This achievement was made possible through UN Women’s leadership in driving gender-responsive national planning. UN Women worked in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MWACSMED), providing both technical expertise in drafting and analysis, convening muti stakeholders for consultative meetings and financial support to ensure the effective integration of gender priorities into national frameworks. Collaboration with the UN Gender Theme Group (GTG), the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, and women’s civil society organizations amplified advocacy efforts and ensured coherence across stakeholders. This outcome directly advances SDG 5.c, which calls for the adoption and strengthening of policies and laws for GEWE, while reinforcing across SDGs on poverty reduction, social protection, and inclusive governance.
This structural shift marks a decisive step toward accountable governance and inclusive development, ensuring that women and girls are no longer invisible in national planning and resource allocation. It strengthens Government’s capacity to track progress against international, regional, and national gender commitments, while laying the foundation for policies and investments that directly improve the lives of women and girls. Complementary milestones, including Cabinet’s adoption of the National Gender Policy (2025) and the launch of the National Gender Machinery and Coordination Framework, reintroducing critical accountability mechanisms to safeguard women’s rights and institutionalize GEWE across all sectors.
This achievement was made possible through UN Women’s leadership in driving gender-responsive national planning. UN Women worked in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MWACSMED), providing both technical expertise in drafting and analysis, convening muti stakeholders for consultative meetings and financial support to ensure the effective integration of gender priorities into national frameworks. Collaboration with the UN Gender Theme Group (GTG), the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, and women’s civil society organizations amplified advocacy efforts and ensured coherence across stakeholders. This outcome directly advances SDG 5.c, which calls for the adoption and strengthening of policies and laws for GEWE, while reinforcing across SDGs on poverty reduction, social protection, and inclusive governance.
Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements
Empowering women to actively participate in leadership and public life at both community and national levels has been a strategic focus of the CO under the thematic area of Governance and Participation in Public Life. The CO sought to increase women’s representation in governance through policy and advocacy initiatives, in partnership with women in positions of power and influence, and with women vying for political leadership positions.
In the 2023 elections, 22 women were directly elected for the 210 lower house seats, out of the 70 (11%) women who contested against 637 male candidates.[1] While this was down from the 14% of women as candidates in 2018, the quota system allowed women to hold 44.3% of Senate seats and 30.3% of the House seats. The CO continues to work with stakeholders to broaden its engagement strategy and dismantle the structural barriers standing in the way of women’s greater representation in public office such as rigid party structures, VAWP and lack of campaign financing.
At community level, women advocates are using their collective voice to demand quality social services in Mashonaland Central and West Provinces. Emboldened by the advocacy skills received through community awareness sessions and trainings on GEWE conducted by UN Women’s CBOs partners, women at ward and district levels no longer sit passively waiting for change: “We go into our communities attending village meetings, borehole meetings and budget consultations at council sessions where budgets are made to ensure that the services being planned address women’s needs,” said one of the beneficiaries during the MTR of the CO SN held in 2024 .
Targeted interventions equipped women with skills to assert their rights and to demand accountability from leadership structures. …” There was no tap water, but at the present moment, water is readily available in our ward,” said one participant during a discussion with UN Women beneficiaries. “We united as women, wrote a petition and submitted it to the Council and that’s when they started to take action, and today, we have water.”
These small footprints at community level contribute to SDG 5 and to the LNOB principle. The women interviewed during the midterm review of the country office strategic note had their own stories of change to tell, illustrating how the CO’s work with community -based groups to strengthen women’s capacities for collective advocacy can make a difference: “ There was an old beer hall that was no longer in use, and while men advocated for it to be revived, we as women recognized that children in the area were struggling with overcrowding at schools. We negotiated with the council for the beer hall to be transformed into a kindergarten school. It was not easy, but as women, once we began advocating, we never stepped back. Our persistence led to its successful conversion into a school…. This achievement demonstrates how our collective voice can bring meaningful change to our communities.”
In the 2023 elections, 22 women were directly elected for the 210 lower house seats, out of the 70 (11%) women who contested against 637 male candidates.[1] While this was down from the 14% of women as candidates in 2018, the quota system allowed women to hold 44.3% of Senate seats and 30.3% of the House seats. The CO continues to work with stakeholders to broaden its engagement strategy and dismantle the structural barriers standing in the way of women’s greater representation in public office such as rigid party structures, VAWP and lack of campaign financing.
At community level, women advocates are using their collective voice to demand quality social services in Mashonaland Central and West Provinces. Emboldened by the advocacy skills received through community awareness sessions and trainings on GEWE conducted by UN Women’s CBOs partners, women at ward and district levels no longer sit passively waiting for change: “We go into our communities attending village meetings, borehole meetings and budget consultations at council sessions where budgets are made to ensure that the services being planned address women’s needs,” said one of the beneficiaries during the MTR of the CO SN held in 2024 .
Targeted interventions equipped women with skills to assert their rights and to demand accountability from leadership structures. …” There was no tap water, but at the present moment, water is readily available in our ward,” said one participant during a discussion with UN Women beneficiaries. “We united as women, wrote a petition and submitted it to the Council and that’s when they started to take action, and today, we have water.”
These small footprints at community level contribute to SDG 5 and to the LNOB principle. The women interviewed during the midterm review of the country office strategic note had their own stories of change to tell, illustrating how the CO’s work with community -based groups to strengthen women’s capacities for collective advocacy can make a difference: “ There was an old beer hall that was no longer in use, and while men advocated for it to be revived, we as women recognized that children in the area were struggling with overcrowding at schools. We negotiated with the council for the beer hall to be transformed into a kindergarten school. It was not easy, but as women, once we began advocating, we never stepped back. Our persistence led to its successful conversion into a school…. This achievement demonstrates how our collective voice can bring meaningful change to our communities.”
Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements
The establishment of Zimbabwe’s first Safe-Market for women vendors. Located in an urban impoverished settlement, the Epworth Safe Market created a violence-free space for women to conduct their economic activities and incorporated a child-care space for women vendors. This innovation has been replicated by UN Women in the country's Matabeleland South Province in 2023, and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development – secured its own funding from AfDB to replicate the violence-free and disability-friendly Safe Markets for Women model in two other major cities. The safe market initiative was also replicated by UN agencies and UN Women provided technical support. To date, 5 markets were rehabilitated in Harare, Matabeleland South and Manicaland provinces. This result contributes to the UNSDCF Outcome 3 (Prosperity) and to the SDG 5 target, 5.2. Notably the significance of this innovation in contributing to women’s economic empowerment and the elimination of violence against women gained further recognition when the Epworth Safe Market was showcased by the European Union in its 2022 EU-Africa Campaign and the Chairwoman of the market Committee was featured.
The livelihood and economic resilience of 180 people, 90% women, was enhanced through access to market stalls, market and skills building initiatives. The model is illustrative also of the GBV-Humanitarian-Development Nexus programming approach used in the Spotlight Initiative to deliver interventions in a multi-hazard context exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The vendors in rehabilitated markets are benefitting through increased sales since the locals now feel more confident buying at the markets with hygiene practices in 2023 where the country is hit with cholera outbreak. An interview with one of the women from the market indicated an increase in the number of sales from less than $10 before cholera to $20 to $25 per day.
The Safe Markets promote women’s right to leadership by placing their voices at the center of the decision-making in the design of the markets, and in the governance and operational structures. A women-led committee engages with the local authority on maintenance, safety & hygiene, and fee-structures for those operating stalls in the markets.
The CO created a strong partnership with the micro finance institutions- Women’s Micro Finance Bank and Women’s Bank which provided financial services to the 60 women vendors. Partnerships were also created with Harare, Epworth, Chipinge and Umzingwane local authorities to implement the safe markets initiative. The partnership with local authorities was critical as it fostered sustainability and contributed to greater collaboration between the women vendors and the authorities, as access to markets is highly politicized and contested. The markets’ infrastructure was integrated within existing local infrastructure to ensure sustainability of the markets and local ownership of the project.
The livelihood and economic resilience of 180 people, 90% women, was enhanced through access to market stalls, market and skills building initiatives. The model is illustrative also of the GBV-Humanitarian-Development Nexus programming approach used in the Spotlight Initiative to deliver interventions in a multi-hazard context exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The vendors in rehabilitated markets are benefitting through increased sales since the locals now feel more confident buying at the markets with hygiene practices in 2023 where the country is hit with cholera outbreak. An interview with one of the women from the market indicated an increase in the number of sales from less than $10 before cholera to $20 to $25 per day.
The Safe Markets promote women’s right to leadership by placing their voices at the center of the decision-making in the design of the markets, and in the governance and operational structures. A women-led committee engages with the local authority on maintenance, safety & hygiene, and fee-structures for those operating stalls in the markets.
The CO created a strong partnership with the micro finance institutions- Women’s Micro Finance Bank and Women’s Bank which provided financial services to the 60 women vendors. Partnerships were also created with Harare, Epworth, Chipinge and Umzingwane local authorities to implement the safe markets initiative. The partnership with local authorities was critical as it fostered sustainability and contributed to greater collaboration between the women vendors and the authorities, as access to markets is highly politicized and contested. The markets’ infrastructure was integrated within existing local infrastructure to ensure sustainability of the markets and local ownership of the project.
Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements
The Government of Zimbabwe has demonstrated its commitment to the participation of women in peace processes by developing a draft National Action Plan (NAP) on UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. This commitment will invite women to meaningfully participate in the peace processes, contributing to SDG 5[1] and Outcome 4 of the UNSDCF. If adopted, the NAP will increase women’s access and effective participation in peace mediation and negotiation in country. The draft NAP is the outcome of inclusive process, led by the Government[2]that started as far back as 2016. Challenges of getting the Government to develop the NAP included low understanding of the application of UNSCR 1325, sensitivities to peace and security issues especially related to political violence in the context of Zimbabwe’s political climate. As a result of targeted advocacy, strategic engagements and research, the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ministry of Defense officially announced their intention to develop the NAP and for the first time, Zimbabwe has a draft NAP on 1325. The CO contributed through creation of a National Technical Committee, training committee members on UNSCR 1325, south-south and north-south exchange on best practices and stakeholder consultations. Consultations ensured that women with disabilities, women in rural areas and young women were included. The lessons learned from this process have been replicated within and outside Zimbabwe. The ZCO replicated the structures and process learnt in developing the NAP 1325 in the support currently being given to the Ministry of Youth in developing the NAP on Youth, Peace, and Security. ZCO shared lessons learned and best practices with the Tanzania CO and other COs engaging in the NAP development process at a meeting in Tanzania. An innovation tied to this result was the training of Members of Parliament[3] and the development of a Handbook on the role of Parliament on UNSCR 1325 to ensure Parliament exercise its oversight role for the Executive to finalise and implements the NAP.
[1] Target 5.2: End all violence against and exploitation of women and girls and Target 5.5: Ensure full participation in leadership and decision-making
[2] Through the MWACSMED and the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans in collaboration with relevant stakeholders
[3] 24 Members of Parliament and Senators awareness was enhanced on the substance of UNSCR 1325 and their roles on implementation of 1235
[1] Target 5.2: End all violence against and exploitation of women and girls and Target 5.5: Ensure full participation in leadership and decision-making
[2] Through the MWACSMED and the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans in collaboration with relevant stakeholders
[3] 24 Members of Parliament and Senators awareness was enhanced on the substance of UNSCR 1325 and their roles on implementation of 1235
Results and resources
- Results overview
- Total resources
- Development results and resources
- Organizational results and resources
Budget
Expenses
Outcome
Result statement
IATI identifier
OutcomeZWE_D_1.1
Outcome result statementThe Outcome is linked to SP Outcome 1. A comprehensive and dynamic set of global norms and standards on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls is strengthened and translated into gender-responsive laws, policies, and institutions.
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ZWE_D_1.1
OutcomeZWE_D_1.2
Outcome result statementUN System coordination
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ZWE_D_1.2
OutcomeZWE_D_2.1
Outcome result statementThe outcome is linked to SP outcome 2: Public and private financing advance gender equality through gender responsive financing policies, strategies and instruments
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ZWE_D_2.1
OutcomeZWE_D_3.1
Outcome result statementThis outcome is linked to SP outcome 3 on; More men and boys and women and girls adopt attitudes, norms and practices that advance gender equality and women’s empowerment, including those that promote positive social norms
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ZWE_D_3.1
Budget
Expenses
Outcome
Result statement
IATI identifier
OutcomeZWE_O_1
Outcome result statementUN-Women is an accountable and trustworthy development organization that manages its financial and other resources with integrity and in line with its programmatic ambitions and fiduciary obligations
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ZWE_O_1
OutcomeZWE_O_2
Outcome result statementUN-Women effectively leverages and expands its partnerships, communications, and advocacy capabilities to increase support for and financing of the gender equality agenda, while securing sustainable resourcing for the delivery of its own mandate.
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ZWE_O_2
OutcomeZWE_O_3
Outcome result statementUN-Women strategically plans for and transforms its business model to deliver impact at scale, through agile and ethical leadership
rooted in a continuous improvement culture
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ZWE_O_3
OutcomeZWE_O_4
Outcome result statementWith its unique and inclusive culture, UN-Women is an employer of choice with a diverse and highly performing cadre of personnel that embodies UN values.
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ZWE_O_4
OutcomeZWE_O_5
Outcome result statementUN-Women efficiently and effectively discharges of all business processes that advance integrated delivery of its mandate at HQ, Regional and Country levels, including through shared services.
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ZWE_O_5
Resources allocated towards SDGs
View SDG data for
Our funding partners contributions
- Chart
- Table
Regular resources (core)
$115.04 K in total
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Other resources (non-core)
$4.54 M in total
Regular resources (core)
$115.04 K in total
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) | --
2022
No data available
|
--
2021
No data available
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
$115,042 2018
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
Total contribution:$115,042
Development:$115,042(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
2018
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$115,042
Total contribution$115,042
Development$115,042(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Other resources (non-core)
$4.54 M in total
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) | $146,888 2022
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)United Nations organization
Total contribution:$146,888
Development:$146,888(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2021
No data available
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
$131,533 2018
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)United Nations organization
Total contribution:$131,533
Development:$131,533(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
| Norway | --
2022
No data available
|
--
2021
No data available
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
$483,243 2018
NorwayOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$483,243
Development:$483,243(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
| Sweden | --
2022
No data available
|
--
2021
No data available
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
$12,697 2018
SwedenOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$12,697
Development:$12,697(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
| United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | --
2022
No data available
|
--
2021
No data available
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
$47,883 2018
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)United Nations organization
Total contribution:$47,883
Development:$47,883(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
| European Commission (Spotlight) | $1,295,312 2022
European Commission (Spotlight)OECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$1,295,312
Development:$1,295,312(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$259,670 2021
European Commission (Spotlight)OECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$259,670
Development:$259,670(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$143,158 2020
European Commission (Spotlight)OECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$143,158
Development:$143,158(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$456,187 2019
European Commission (Spotlight)OECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$456,187
Development:$456,187(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2018
No data available
|
| Peacebuilding Fund | --
2022
No data available
|
$69,990 2021
Peacebuilding FundUnited Nations pooled fund
Total contribution:$69,990
Development:$69,990(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$316,843 2020
Peacebuilding FundUnited Nations pooled fund
Total contribution:$316,843
Development:$316,843(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$172,219 2019
Peacebuilding FundUnited Nations pooled fund
Total contribution:$172,219
Development:$172,219(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2018
No data available
|
| Ireland | $52,939 2022
IrelandOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$52,939
Development:$52,939(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$187,917 2021
IrelandOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$187,917
Development:$187,917(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$29,800 2020
IrelandOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$29,800
Development:$29,800(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2019
No data available
|
--
2018
No data available
|
| Japan | $599,156 2022
JapanOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$599,156
Development:$599,156(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2021
No data available
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
--
2018
No data available
|
| United Nations COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Office Reponse | $126,738 2022
United Nations COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Office ReponseUnited Nations pooled fund
Total contribution:$126,738
Development:$126,738(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2021
No data available
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
--
2018
No data available
|
| United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office | $8,223 2022
United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
Total contribution:$8,223
Development:$8,223(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2021
No data available
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
--
2018
No data available
|
2022
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)$146,888
Total contribution$146,888
Development$146,888(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
European Commission (Spotlight)$1,295,312
Total contribution$1,295,312
Development$1,295,312(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Ireland$52,939
Total contribution$52,939
Development$52,939(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Japan$599,156
Total contribution$599,156
Development$599,156(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
United Nations COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Office Reponse$126,738
Total contribution$126,738
Development$126,738(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office$8,223
Total contribution$8,223
Development$8,223(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
2021
European Commission (Spotlight)$259,670
Total contribution$259,670
Development$259,670(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Peacebuilding Fund$69,990
Total contribution$69,990
Development$69,990(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Ireland$187,917
Total contribution$187,917
Development$187,917(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
2020
European Commission (Spotlight)$143,158
Total contribution$143,158
Development$143,158(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Peacebuilding Fund$316,843
Total contribution$316,843
Development$316,843(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Ireland$29,800
Total contribution$29,800
Development$29,800(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
2019
European Commission (Spotlight)$456,187
Total contribution$456,187
Development$456,187(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Peacebuilding Fund$172,219
Total contribution$172,219
Development$172,219(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
2018
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)$131,533
Total contribution$131,533
Development$131,533(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Norway$483,243
Total contribution$483,243
Development$483,243(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Sweden$12,697
Total contribution$12,697
Development$12,697(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)$47,883
Total contribution$47,883
Development$47,883(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)